Short-term Rental Project Is Placed On Back Burner

KISSIMMEE - The County Commission delayed approval of two proposed land developments Monday, stating that more time was needed to discuss special conditions and resident complaints against developers.

Approval of the Remington Partnership's request for 92 detached single-family houses with short-term rental designation southwest of Remington Boulevard, and Compton Builder's request for 99 multifamily units on the east side of Fish Lake were postponed until Jan. 11.

Remington resident Eric Taylor said that residents were being unfairly treated and that approval of short-term rentals by the board would be detrimental to the community.

``I don't want to live in a hotel,'' Taylor said.

``Why have a gated community if people will just come and go?''

Also delayed until Jan. 11 was the approval of a request to allow 139 single-family and 631 multi family units northeast of Neptune Road on Partin Settlement Road. Residents have opposed plans for the Divirgillio property because of concerns about traffic and the smaller size of houses planned there.

Commissioner Ken Smith said the county needed more time to discuss changes in the minimum lot sizes.

The commission approved 8-0 Sun Quest International's request for 799 single-family residential units, two 18-hole golf courses and more than 600 acres of recreation land on the east side of Pleasant Hill Road, west of Lake Tohopekaliga.

The minimum 10,000-square-foot lot size and building-restricted bald eagle zones were crucial to the approval on property owned by rancher Jennings Overstreet.

``We can't micro-design developments, but we can set the parameters,'' Commissioner Mary Jane Arrington said.

``There will not be any short-term rentals, and the minimum home size will be 2,000 square feet.''

In other business Monday:

Representatives from Osceola Mental Health presented their five-year comprehensive strategic plan and executive and budget summaries. The commission is working to free up $150,000 from the substance-abuse trust fund for the agency.